peru-8-cuzco-sacred-valley
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234<br />
The Sacred Valley<br />
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To Abra Malaga pass (43km)<br />
ä#<br />
Ollantaytambo<br />
#\ Ollantaytambo<br />
R<br />
Nevado<br />
Verónica<br />
(5750m)<br />
‚<br />
To Aguas<br />
Calientes (30km);<br />
Machu Picchu<br />
(38km)<br />
Salinas #æ<br />
Tarabamba<br />
Moray ä#<br />
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Urubamba<br />
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Yucay<br />
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Huarán<br />
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Wayllabamba<br />
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Lares<br />
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Calca<br />
0 10 km<br />
#e 0 5 miles<br />
?è 101 ?è 103 ?è 101<br />
Río Urubamba<br />
?è 108 ?è 3<br />
Huarocondo<br />
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?è 26 ?è 3<br />
Maras<br />
Anta<br />
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?è 108<br />
Chinchero<br />
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Chinchero<br />
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Patabamba<br />
Tambomachay<br />
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Saqsaywamán<br />
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Cuzco ?è26<br />
Pisacä#<br />
?è 107<br />
Pisac<br />
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Pukapukara<br />
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Q'enqo<br />
Saylla<br />
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Tipón<br />
ä#<br />
To Paucartambo<br />
(40km)<br />
Huambutiyo<br />
Piquillacta<br />
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Oropesa ä#<br />
Rumicolca<br />
To Andahuayillas (6.9km) ä#<br />
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Cuzco & the Sacred Valley T S P H I S G E AC H S T AC S & R E AC D T VA I V L I T L I E Y S<br />
your own leisure. The archaeological sites of<br />
Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero can be<br />
visited with a boleto turístico, which can be<br />
bought directly onsite.<br />
Pisac<br />
%084 / POP 900 / ELEV 2715M<br />
It’s not hard to succumb to the charms of<br />
sunny Pisac, a bustling colonial village at the<br />
base of a spectacular Inca fortress perched on<br />
a mountain spur. Its pull is universal and recent<br />
years have seen an influx of expats and<br />
new age followers in search of an Andean<br />
Shangri-la. Located just 33km northeast of<br />
Cuzco by a paved road, it’s the most convenient<br />
starting point to the Sacred Valley.<br />
1 Sights & Activities<br />
Mercado de Artesania<br />
MARKET<br />
Pisac is known far and wide for its market,<br />
by far the biggest and most touristy in the<br />
region. Official market days are Tuesday,<br />
Thursday and Sunday, when tourist buses<br />
descend on the town in droves. However, the<br />
market has taken over Pisac to such an extent<br />
that it fills the Plaza de Armas and surrounding<br />
streets every day; visit on Monday,<br />
Wednesday, Friday or Saturday if you want<br />
to avoid the worst of the crowds.<br />
Pisac Ruins<br />
RUINS<br />
(admission with boleto turístico; hdawn-dusk)<br />
This hilltop Inca citadel lies high above the<br />
village on a triangular plateau with a plunging<br />
gorge on either side. Though it’s a truly<br />
awesome site, it gets relatively few tourists,<br />
except midmorning on Sunday, Tuesday and<br />
Thursday, when tour groups flood in.<br />
The most impressive feature is the agricultural<br />
terracing, which sweeps around<br />
the south and east flanks of the mountain<br />
in huge and graceful curves, almost entirely<br />
unbroken by steps (which require greater<br />
maintenance and promote erosion). Instead,<br />
the terracing is joined by diagonal flights of<br />
stairs made of flagstones set into the terrace<br />
walls. Above the terraces are cliff-hugging<br />
footpaths, watched over by caracara falcons<br />
and well defended by massive stone doorways,<br />
steep stairs and a short tunnel carved<br />
out of the rock. Vendors sell drinks at the<br />
top.<br />
This dominating site guards not only the<br />
Urubamba Valley below, but also a pass leading<br />
into the jungle to the northeast. Topping<br />
the terraces is the site’s ceremonial center,<br />
with an intihuatana (literally ‘hitching<br />
post of the sun’; an Inca astronomical tool),<br />
several working water channels, and some<br />
painstakingly neat masonry in the well-pre-
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